Laughter at the Academy is a fantastic book of short stories. They are well written and have great characters. This is a great book to read on Halloween night.

Note: Will be posted October 30th

Because I am a delight who doesn’t like it when her friends get too much sleep.

I cannot express how much I adore Seanan McGuire’s work. She has a gift of being able to slide into any genre and twist it into her own world, her own little touch of macabre. I am sure she would even appreciate that I am working on this review in the attic (alone) of a waiting lounge from the 1870's, where people waited after the funeral before going to the grave site. (What can I say, I get a lot of writing done while I am working at the museum — which is, in part what the attic is.) I am still new to her work, but I think this book is an excellent representation of what to expect when you pick up a story by Seanan McGuire.

I just cannot wait to see Spider Gwen go against some of these creations.

Thank you Subterranean Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

“Haven’t you ever noticed how fairies only come when there are things to be taken away?”

Since this is a collection of short stories, there isn’t a way to summarize each and every story, especially without giving away a twist. Instead, I have included a copy of the Table of Contents at the bottom of this review, so you can get an idea of how truly creative some of these titles are.

This is McGuire’s first collection of short stories under her name (I am not entirely sure if she has one under Mira Grant that isn’t just an anthology for a specific series, but no matter.) All of these stories have been published in other anthologies or places, and McGuire takes the time before each story to explain where it might have been published, why she included it, and occasionally, content warnings. All of which are appreciated.
What I love about this collection is that it show cases stories of fantasy, sci fi, steampunk, and horror without ever feeling like it’s redundant. Sure, you can figure out fairly quickly that McGuire has a fascination for the sea (something that should send me running to the hills) and science and mad scientist. In fact, the collection is named after the first short story of the collection, which is about mad scientist. The moment I read the full title of the short story, “Laughter at the Academy: A Field Study in the Genesis of Schizotypal Creative Genius Personality Disorder (SCGPD),” I knew I was in for a trip I was going to love. I ended up going through this anthology fairly slowly, savoring stories and sometimes thinking for days after about it. In fact, I read “Uncle Sam” probably 10 days ago, and was still trying to explain it to someone earlier today. This collection is just that good.

While I do love some stories more than others, I don’t think there is a bad one in this bunch. I know McGuire curated the stories herself, and I think she really did an excellent job. Even the ones that I shouldn’t like (anything involving water), I was still entertained and hooked. What is even more fascinating is how McGuire’s mind works. As someone who has a short story coming out next week, it was nice to be humbled by reading this collection. McGuire takes a prompt that sometimes seems ridiculous — I actually rolled my eyes at the idea of an anthology based on the idea that women work better in submarines, but the story “Each to Each” went in a direction that had me so turned around by the end that I loved it. Me, who avoids enclosed spaces in deep sea. It’s brilliant. Another time was one about robots, which tackles children bullying. I can’t explain my obsession with her mind.

Christ, there is one about a TUNA, and I just wanted to skip it. I am so glad I didn’t. Seanan, I’ll read your grocery lists if you want.

Several stories are told in different formats, which is something I am now fascinated with. “Bring About the Halloween Eternal!!” “Office Memos,” and “#connollyhouse #weshouldntbehere” are all not in traditional short story formats. I won’t spoil what the formats are because they are an absolute treat to experience.

Overall I am not a fan of anthologies or short story collections, mostly because I feel that they take some effort to get into and then they’re done just as quick. I have been working on it because I know there are so many collections out there that are amazing and worth it. Reading this has helped me to slow down and savor books again, plus an added bonus of a collection that is just too good to pass up. If you are new to McGuire’s work, this is a great place to start. It shows off her talents in different genres and keeps you on your toes, not knowing what to expect. Some had me down right terrified of her (Looking at you, “The Tolling of Pavlov’s Bells” and “Uncle Sam” — that was a fun Thursday morning) and some had me absolutely sobbing on public transportation (Looking at you, “Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage” and “Homecoming.”)

There are two Peter Pan inspired, one Wizard of Oz, and even one that is dedicated to how amazing Jurassic Park is. Be forewarned, several of these stories are going to make you uncomfortable with how awful humanity is, and what’s going to bring the end of the world. It’s entirely worth it.

Laughter at the Academy is Seanan McGuire's first true collection of short stories, by her own words. If you've read any of Seanan McGuire's works, then you probably already have a good idea of what will be in store for you here. So I don't need to explain all of the reasons you should be reading this. If you haven't read Seanan McGuire, this is an excellent sampling of her works, and thus worth checking out.
Laughter at the Academy consists of twenty-two short stories; Laughter at the Academy, Lost, The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells, Uncle Sam, Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage, Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust, Homecoming, Frontier ABCs: The Life and Times of Charity Smith, Schoolteacher, We Are All Misfit Toys in the Aftermath of the Velveteen War, The Lambs, Each to Each, Bring About the Halloween Eternal!!!, Office Memos, Lady Antheia's Guide to Horticultural Warfare, Driving Jenny Home, There Is No Place for Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold, In Skeleton Leaves, Please Accept My Most Profound Apologies for What Is About to Happen (But You Started It), Threnody for Little Girl, With Tuna, at the End of the World, From A to Z in the Book of Changes (which is technically twenty-six even shorter stories), #connollyhouse #weshouldntbehere, and finally, Deep, Deep Down, Below the Waves.
This was an amazing collection, one that will push readers through a gambit of emotions, from horror to sadness, back around to amused and joyous. Seanan McGuire's stories are sure to enthrall and fascinate.

“This is where, by format, I should offer up some extended metaphor, like 'follow me into the forest' or 'let's go walking in the fields together, you and I,' but my metaphors are in my fiction, and tend to be pretty weird.”

Laughter at the Academy
Laughter at the Academy is the namesake of this collection, and with good reason. This is a tale that takes the mad scientist trope, and spins and twists it until it's something new and different. In a world where mad scientists are a literal thing, what can the public do, except try and find a standardized test for madness?
I adored this short story. It was funny, it was whimsical. And in many ways, it was also just a little bit down to earth. I honestly would have loved to see an entire novel along this theme, but I'm not going to complain about what I got here.

Lost
Lost is the tale of well...lost children. What would happen, if all the children under the age of fourteen began to sing, and followed an unknown mystery into space? That is what McGuire explores in this tale.
There was something so beautiful and eerie about this tale. In some ways, this short story felt like a fragile being – handle it too roughly, and you'll dash it upon the rocks. But it was also fierce, in that it really did dig into my heart. Once again, I would have loved to see more of this tale.

The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells
The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells explores a concept that may be familiar to those that have read A Kingdom of Needle and Bone. And I mean that in a positive way, of course. Here Seanan McGuire explores a scientist set out to teach the world a lesson – a lesson about quarantine procedures, and how fatal it can be to fail to follow them.
First I just want to say that I love the title of this short story. It's perfect. Second, once again this was an absolutely eerie tale. I adored everything about it, even while it utterly creeped me out. And I mean that in the best ways possible...even if it will make me hesitate when entering a highly trafficked area...for the rest of my life.

Uncle Sam
America may be one of the youngest counties out there, but that hasn't stopped it from collecting its own lore and legends. But what if the lore was more than just a myth? Here is a dark and disturbing tale, about how our country was founded, and the price of maintaining it.
Oh god, there was something so utterly disturbing about this tale. Perhaps because it resonated so deeply within me. In truth, it'll resonate with any woman who has ever been told to be mindful of where she is, and where she should never go alone.

Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage
This is Seanan McGuire's first go at writing a portal fantasy, according to the description. And I've got to say, she nailed it. Here is a sad, yet beautiful tale, about a young girl who became a warrior, but then had to face a whole new challenge in her life.
In many ways, Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage felt so poignant. Who among us hasn't felt a keen sense of loss, in regards to their childhoods? McGuire manages to reach into that emotion, and write out an entire tale surrounding it.

Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust
This short story is McGuire's take of The Wizard of Oz. What if Dorothy went home, but kept finding herself back in Oz, again and again? More, what if she wasn't the only one to keep coming back – despite her best efforts?
This short story was a darker tale on the world, but it just felt so...right. It's delightfully colored by her own perception and writing, and thus worth reading for both fans of Oz, and fans of McGuire.

Homecoming
Homecoming explores the concept of modern Valkyries – those whose job it is to guide the spirits of the dead to their final resting place. What would these Valkyries look like now, with how much our lore, religion, and societies have changed?
No Seanan McGuire collection is complete without a ghost story or two. This is a heartwarming tale, but it is also such a prime example of her work. Only McGuire could combine ghosts and football into something such as this.

Frontier ABCs: The Life and Times of Charity Smith
The wild west meets space in this short story. Charity Smith was not a woman to be crossed, and she won't tolerate all of the wars that keep sprouting up all over the universe. And she certainly won't allow innocents to keep getting between the battles.
Once again, I found myself wanting to see more of this tale. It was so fascinating, and I just love how Charity's backstory was slowly revealed over time, while also showing us the full brunt and cost of the wars.

We Are All Misfit Toys in the Aftermath of the Velveteen War
If there are two things that should possibly never combine, it's AI and children's toys. Yet that is exactly the story Seanan McGuire explores here, and the darker conclusion of such interactions.
Okay, this is one of those short stories that is going to chill you to the bone. No, that's not quite right. It's going to change the way you look at your childhood toys. McGuire's writing is beautifully macabre in this tale, using repetition to force the horror of the tale to fully sink in.

The Lambs
The Lambs is a look at how the future might try and handle bullying. In a world where we can create incredibly advanced robots, why not design them to make them appear human? Here these androids have been deployed to find the bullies in schools, and take the abuse so the humans can survive.
Wow. This was a dark tale. But it was also so much more. Part of me felt pity for the lambs, while the rest of me wondered how a program such as this would work in real life. It's certainly a food for thought sort of short story, and those are always my favorite types.

Each to Each
Each to Each is Seanan McGuire's obligatory mermaid story – you just knew that she was going to fit one in here. In this tale, mermaids meet the navy in a tale of transformation and engineering – all while covering some prolific and heavy subjects. Themes that are commonplace in today's time.
I can't tell you how much I adored this short story. It was pure Seanan McGuire. I love that it addressed several important subjects (misogyny and transphobia), but I also love the world that she built here, and would desperately love to see more of it.

Bring About the Halloween Eternal!!!
It isn't every day you see a story masquerading as a crowdfunding project, yet that is exactly what Seanan McGuire created here. Here, you'll see it combined with her love for Halloween. It's a delightful and slightly inane combination, which makes it perfect in so many ways.

Office Memos
Office Memos is exactly what it sounds like; a collection of office memos. Only...there's a catch. The office is a Polytechnic Engineering and Research facility and is full of whimsical and insane science fiction and fantasy moments.
This short story had me laughing out loud at so many points. It was a breath of fresh air from all of the heavier stories in this collection. And I would have loved it even without that element. It was hilarious and cute and so very sassy. It really was best suited to a short story format, but still, I find myself wishing I could have seen more...

Lady Athenia's Guide to Horticultural Warfare
Steam punk meets H.G. Wells in Lady Athenia's Guide to Horticultural Warfare. Athenia is not, and has never been, what she appears to be. Nor is she a being that can be bent to anybody's will. But you can rest assured, she'll be memorable at a party...
This was a fun and fantastical tale. It was proper, in the way you expect all steampunk tales to be. But it also had bite to it, and that is what I loved most of all.

Driving Jenny Home
If you've read Seanan McGuire's Ghost Road series, then you already know that she's fascinated with hitchhiking ghosts. This is an earlier incarnation of that tale. Jenny was off to her prom, when she and her girlfriend, Leigh, were in a fatal car accident. Fatal for Jenny, that is. Leigh had to live with what happened that night.
This is a story for which you'll be grateful to have tissues around. Still, it was fascinating and beautiful. But I might be biased, since I love the Ghost Road series so much. I can see a lot of the influence from this piece, and it was truly lovely as a short story here.

There Is No Place for Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold
There Is No Place for Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold is another tale about dolls and toys, but with a completely different take. Marian is a dollmaker, but for her, it goes beyond a hobby. Thanks to her connection to the Kingdom of the Cold, she can infuse her emotions into the dolls she makes. But there is a price for crossing their path.
This was a fascinating and delightful tale. It unraveled perfectly but still left me wishing that there was more to it. That's just how perfect this story was. It was an interesting take on the connection between people and their possessions, and a memorable one at that.

In Skeleton Leaves
In Skeleton Leaves is McGuire's take on the classic Peter Pan tale – a darker world than we might have read about growing up. But that seemed to fit perfectly with both the tale, and what we've seen of McGuire's previous works.
Honestly? This tale was perfect. I've loved Peter Pan since I was a kid, but it always felt like it was missing something...something darker to add a bit of weight to the story. And I feel like this perfectly captured what I had always felt was missing.

Please Accept My Most Profound Apologies for What Is About to Happen (But You Started It)
It is hard to describe this one, without giving it all the way. Suffice it to say that it combines many of Seanan McGuire's great loves; Jurassic Park/dinosaurs, genetic engineering, and beautifully twisting expectations.

Threnody for Little Girl, With Tuna, at the End of the World
Threnody for Little Girl, With Tuna, at the End of the World may be a slightly long title, but it perfectly fits the story within. This is the story of the last tuna fish, and the very special connection one girl – now woman – had with it.
This was a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale, all in one. It covered a lot of different themes and concerns, from growing up to what damage we're doing to our planet. And naturally, I loved everything about this story.

From A to Z in the Book of Changes
From A to Z in the Book of Changes is quite literally a collection of twenty-six one word prompts, that Seanan McGuire then turned into a series of very quick short stories. It's something I've never seen done before, and was a truly unique experience to read.

#connollyhouse #weshouldntbehere
Once again, Seanan McGuire has managed to tell a tale from a strange media format. This time around her tale is being told through tweet (twitter) format. Yes, you read that right. Throughout these tweets, a dark and disturbing horror is slowly revealed. And she made excellent use of hashtags to add subtext. It was perfection.

Deep, Deep Down, Below the Waves
Deep, Deep Down, Below the Waves combines Lovecraft horror and McGuire's writing into something new and amazing. If you've read the tale of Innsmouth, then you're already perfectly positioned to be horrified and fascinated by what happens here.
This was perhaps my favorite short story out of the whole collection, which is saying something. I loved McGuire's take on Innsmouth and its strange residents. I honestly would love nothing more than seeing this adapted into a full novel format. But for now, I'll be content with what I have here.

Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, so I was beyond excited to dive into this collection. It was awesome! Each story was unique and different, yet still contained McGuire's creative genius and signature style. If you're new to McGuire's work, then Laughter at the Academy is an excellent place to start.

I usually find that most short stories are just too short and lack the depth they need to make a good story. But that's not the case with McGuire. She's near-flawless in her ability to take just a few words and weave them in such a way as to create a full and meaningful experience that lacks for nothing.

There were a few stories that weren't really to my tastes, but the vast majority of them were awesome. Here are some of my favorites.

Laughter at the Academy: A Field Study in the Genesis of Schizotypal Creative Genius Personality Disorder (SCGPD) - This story takes a rather interesting look and approach to the term “mad scientist” where it's treated like a disease of the worst order. I liked it. It raised some good questions.

The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells - The Tolling of Pavlov's Bells was an absolutely terrifying read for this hypochondriac. An author/microbiologist has created something with the potential to wipe out all of humanity. It was so scary because it was so realistic! Thanks to this story, I'll be having nightmares for weeks to come.

Crystal Halloway and the Forgotton Passage - This was an emotional portal fantasy. Crystal was torn between two worlds, The Otherways where she was a champion and hero to the realm, and the world she was born in, the reality that felt less and less real each time she left.

Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust - This was a grittier take on Oz. Dorothy, or Dot as she prefers now, is not the sweet, innocent little girl we remember, but a bitter and angry woman. She's a Princess of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the West. I was a little unsure about this story in the beginning, but once the mystery really got going I was sold and really, really enjoyed it. I'd love more stories set here.

Frontier ABCs: The Life and Times of Charity Smith, Schoolteacher - This was a space opera that had a bit of a western flair to it. Neither one of those genres are my favorites, but I LOVED this story. It was so much fun and I'd love more stories about Miss Cherry.

We Are All Misfit Toys in the Aftermath of the Velveteen War - AI toys go rogue and start a war. This story was disturbing, terrifying, and heartbreaking. It shines a light on the dangers of what might happen with artificial intelligence. Truly horrifying, and yet, I want more.

Office Memos - Office Memos was a hilarious story that followed the wacky lab incidents of a gremlin scientist. This was one of my absolute favorites. I loved it and wished it would've kept going. I didn't want it to stop.

#connollyhouse #weshouldntbehere - Follow alongside a character as she live tweets her experience inside a haunted house. I really liked this one. The fact that it was told only in tweets was a fun twist. Just a little warning though, it's VERY creepy! Gave me quite a fright!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

**I was provided an electronic ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Avg rating: 3.82

I always have the hardest time rating anthologies and short story collections, so I've decided to give each story an individual rating and average them to the overall score. For the star rating, I rounded up :)

For any short story collection, there will be some that strike better with one reader than another, and generally some stories are preferred to others in the collection. This short story collection stays true to that theory. None of the stories individually fell below 3 stars for me, and four of the stories were actually 5 stars, which was a wonderful surprise.

In general, if you like Seanan McGuire's writing already, then I would say you'll also like it in this. There is a little bit of playfulness with formatting for some of the stories, which was fun, if not always my favorite.

The concepts in this collection were really cool to think about, even outside of the stories that were actually presented. If you're a fan of short stories, Seanan McGuire, or speculative scifi/fantasy, this should be a good collection for you.

Short stories are not my thing, but I love Seanan McGuire and have to read everything by her. That being said, I gave it 3 stars based on my enjoyment. Her writing is still fabulous, I just don't enjoy short stories very much. I did like the story about the outbreak. It was scary because it could really happen.

This was such an impressive, immersive, and invigorating collection of short stories by one of the most talented authors in the game.

Billed as a short story collection to introduce new readers to Seanan McGuire's tales, I want to edge back on that comparison and say that I found my prior knowledge of Seanan McGuire's stories and themes to be a pivotal part of the reading process. Don't get me wrong, it's an impressive cold introduction too. But these tales have echoes of Wayward Children, Into the Drowning Deep, and Middlegame. They are introduced by Seanan herself, with her asides placing the narratives in context for the collection. I loved watching the master at work exploring similar themes across multiple mediums and story lines.

A few of my favorite tales:

Lost - a lyrical and heartbreaking take on the Peter Pan myth of children disappearing to the pirate ships in the sky.

Uncle Sam - as a woman in America, this blood price thoughtlessly agreed upon by the Founding Fathers was...relevant.

Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage - Wayward Children fans will recognize the echoes the "doors to other realms" concept in this story of one girl's refusal to pick one world over the other--until the choice is made for her.

Frontier ABCs - Miss Cherry singlehandedly keeps intergalactic peace, all the while teaching the new generation. Respect your teachers.

We Are All Misfit Toys - Definitely not a favorite for the content, but I respect the concept, as this story of AI toys vs parents is chilling and graphic.

In Skeleton Leaves - Another Peter Pan inspired tale, and I don't even care—this one of Wendys and Pans and how there must always be a Wendy, and there must always be a Pan...and some things must remain cyclical.

Outside of these, there were stories on mermaids, militarized underwater hybrids, homecoming games, Wizard of Oz, disease control, bio-warfare, stories told through Tweets, stories told through goblin office memos, and more. This collection runs the gamut, but as a fantasy reader I was drawn to the tales most heavily inspired by fantasy.

Thank you to Subterranean Press via NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This collection of previously published stories (although some were never published widely, such as those available to her Patreon supporters) ranges from fantasy to sci-fi to horror, so there is plenty of variety here for genre readers. Many of the stories in this volume are very much like the works she publishes as Mira Grant, so this collection would work well as an introduction to her full oeuvre. However, none of the stories in this collection are part of any of her established universes, which means that you don't need to have read any of her previous work in order to fully enjoy these stories.

I'm a fan of McGuire/Grant's novellas and novels, but this was the first time I'd read any of her short stories. I am pleased to say that they are every bit as wonderful as her longer works. It's hard for me to pick out favorites when the collection was so uniformly excellent, but I'll highlight a few gems, all quite different from each other. "Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust" is a queer noir story of Dorothy Gale all grown up in Oz. "Frontier ABCs: The Life and Times Of Charity Smith, Schoolteacher" is a space western about a legendary schoolteacher who can intimidate entire planetary governments. "We Are All Misfit Toys in the Aftermath of the Velveteen War" explores a future where the AI apocalypse is triggered by self-learning children's toys. "Office Memos" is a humorous, Scalzi-esque glimpse at what it would be like if a company's research and development department hired a gremlin. "There Is No Place for Sorrow in the Kingdom of the Cold" follows a dollmaker who crafts dolls as vessels to contain her emotions. Lastly, "From A to Z In the Book of Changes" is a series of 26 extremely short stories, one for each letter of the alphabet, offering brief glimpses of strange, ominous, and funny happenings of worlds in flux.

This is also the first story collection I've seen with content warnings for each of its stories. In her introduction, McGuire explains that she was inspired to do so by the fanfic community, in which she got her start as a writer. I loved that thoughtful inclusion in the introduction to each story, which shows real respect for her readers.

I highly recommend this short story collection. I had high hopes for it, based on my love of McGuire's novellas and novels, and it did not disappoint me.

Laughter at the Academy by Seanan Mcguire. A book of short stories from a master of the pen. If you enjoy McGuire's writings put this book on your TBR list.

Laughter at the Academy by Seanan McGuire (published 10/31 by Subterranean Press) is exactly what I needed to read after the High Holidays.

This eclectic anthology is the first bundle of short stories by the Nebula/Hugo/Insert Award Here-nominated author of clever changelings in modern-day San Francisco going on quests to bloodthirsty mermaids chomping on a documentary crew and more! While Seanan McGuire has carved out a space for herself with her many series, Laughter at the Academy is a masterclass in authorial range when it comes to style, plot, genre, and voice. From a Kickstarter to summon an eternal Halloween to Pandora’s legacy for some of the creepiest dolls in fiction, there is something for everyone. While the stories differ greatly, her voice rings loud as she delightfully holds your hand as you enter the cornfield of her imagination.

Here is a list of some of the things you’ll be reading about:
• Childhood toys starting a gory war
• The folklore as to why girls usually go to the bathroom in a group
• An intergalactic schoolteacher with a gun
• Mudery space plant lady who serves the glorious empire
• A live-tweet of a haunted house
• An enthusiastic fan of Jurassic Park making her claim as to why her project is happening
• Science time and grants with the Deep Ones!
• And so much more…blood…and hope…and pumpkins…

(Sacrifices to the Great Pumpkin are sold separately.)

There are 22 short stories, a few you might recognize from being published in Lightspeed. Even if you want a taste of what to expect before diving into one of McGuire’s series or want to kill time before her next book, this comes highly recommended.

Get Laughter at the Academy, in particular, grab a signed copy from Subterranean Press if you want to properly celebrate the Halloween season!

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

OK, full disclosure - I've read and enjoyed most of Seanan McGuire's books (and those of Mira Grant), so I was primed to enjoy this short story collection - and it didn't disappoint!

Too often, I don't like short stories as much as longer works, because they seem incomplete - too little character development or stories that are unsatisfyingly abrupt. This collection is different.

In just a few pages, Ms. McGuire manages to provide a real story, with real characters. Some, I would very much like to see expanded, but not necessarily because they were incomplete - simply because I want to read more!

There are too many stories to discuss each one, and, of course, I liked some more than others, but a few of them really struck me.

"Laughter at the Academy"...………..remind me never to attend one of Ms. McGuire's book signings!

"Crystal Halloway and the Forgotten Passage".....this sure appears to be a precursor to the Wayward Children series. I enjoyed the story and it was interesting to see where she went with it in the later series.

"Emeralds to Emeralds, Dust to Dust"....I like stories about Oz, and particularly alternate takes, like Wicked. This was another alternate take, very interesting read.

"Homecoming".....I love the idea of the Valkyries as cheerleaders.

"Lady Antheia's Guide to Horticultural Warfare"..... best definition of diplomacy EVER - when told that "but the first thing you did was eat my sister's maid," the response was "but I was sorry afterward, which is the very definition of diplomacy."

I could go on, but the main thing is this - all the stories are well worth reading. Every story is different, but each one is a treat to read. Ms. McGuire's imagination appears to be boundless, and her writing is up to the task of keeping these ideas fun to read.

One last reason we should also support her as an author - we DO NOT want her to change course and become a mad scientist!

Oh my, how I wish I could crawl up inside Ms. McGuire's brain and explore haha. This collection of stories may be my favorite read of the year so far. There's something for everyone... from dystopia, AI gone wrong, after life stories and spooky haunted houses. I laughed and cried at times. Definitely would recommend to anyone that enjoys fantasy.

Seanan’s been writing a damn long time, and a lot of it has been short stories. She’s hella prolific. So a collection of her short stories, only one of which I had read before, is deeply welcome. Add in that they got Carla McNeil to do illustrations, and I am actually going to be putting down for the physical edition.

This was a perfect October read! Each one of the stories transported me (for a short time) to another world entirely. McGuire's ability to pack so much into so few words is amazing. I especially loved the introductions to each story. I really felt a stronger connection with each tale because of it. This book is a fantastic addition to my collection, and I highly recommend it to everyone - even if they aren't familiar with McGuire's other books.

Pub date: Halloween 2019
Engrossing fantasy and horror short stories! Some have a feel of McGuire's Wayward Children fantasy and some her Mira Grant pseudonym' horror. Women-getting-revenge stories seemed to dominate and the original story which is the precursor to In The Shadow of Spindrift House is included in the mix, which I'd been wanting to read. Perfect for those fans of Seanan McGuire and Mira Grant!

disclaimer: i received a copy of this book via subterranean press in return for an honest review.

sometimes a short story is its own world, containing everything you need. then there are times when the story leaves you asking "and then what happened?", and you know that you'll probably only find out in your dreams. "laughter at the academy", seanan mcguire's first* personal anthology contains both types and more. 

to ease the way into each story, mcguire provides short introductions to serve as windows. in some, you get a piece of the story's origin, in others a warning. stories with song lyrics help bind you to the story, its people or tragedies, it's horrors or joys. stories with "quotes" from other materials become glimpses into the world outside of the current story's setting - whether it's a review of the past, a different view of the present, or an intimation of what the future holds.

it's easy to lose yourself in these stories. mcguire's writing, even in the shortest, is nuanced and compelling. her characters are fully realized, grounded, and relatable, even the ones you sincerely hope get eaten by something. 

there truly are stories for every taste here. each story has its own rhythm and will linger in your mind and heart. "laughter at the academy" is a genuine gift for long time seanan mcguire fans, and for new readers, an incredible introduction to her worlds.

five out of five stars

*yes, yes, i know. what about mira grant? grant's newsflesh series has an excellent anthology ("rise") containing previously published and new stories but i try to keep grant's stories far away from mcguire's. if you've read any of grant's work, you'll totally understand why.

I enjoyed these stories but don't recommend reading them in a single sitting. This is one of those books that needs to be taken in small bites. The writing was great. It was well edited. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy just as promised. I think this will be a popular Halloween hand sell. I look forward to discussing it with other readers.

As my first dalliance into the expansive works of Seanan McGuire, I was glad to see that she had assembled this collection with new readers of hers in mind. I was debating whether I should start with her Wayward Children series, but I’m happy I went with the short stories. This way, you really get a full sampling of the types of stories she likes to tell.

The ARC that I received didn’t number them, but I counted 21 in total, if I’m not mistaken. Totally could be, though, it wouldn’t be the first time. Each story has a short preamble at the beginning, explaining for which publication it was originally written and her thought process conceiving it. I appreciated these and felt like it helped me get in a proper mindset, especially if you’re planning to read multiple stories right after one another. I had to take breaks after reading many of them. There was often so much to digest and process that it can be difficult to just power through in one sitting.

This is just a testament to her writing, though. It’s very fitting that she’s releasing this collection on Halloween. I didn’t know quite what to expect going into this, but I was delighted with how grim and twisted they could be. Maybe delighted isn’t the right word...it feels weird to be so happy with something generally unhappy, isn’t it? I was satisfied, how about that? ‘Deeply satisfied’ feels more akin to how I felt after each work of fiction.

One of the things I liked the best was the abundance of female ‘villains’, for lack of a better word. McGuire doesn’t typically make it as simple as good and evil, but there are some truly sinister women in these stories and I loved it. It reminded me of what Gillian Flynn had said about her own female villains, “Women have spent so many years girl-powering ourselves to the point of almost parodic encouragement [that] we’ve left no room to acknowledge our dark side.” I want more interesting women in fiction, which includes scary, ruthless and even the dreaded ‘unlikeable’. I can’t wait to read more from this author who has truly embraced writing her own dark side.

Do you like Seanan McGuire's works? Do you like short stories of urban fantasy? Then this collection of short stories is for you.

Seriously, it's a fun book and it's interesting to see a short story that plants an idea of a larger book that she ends up writing. There were two stories I didn't like (seeing Ozma being portrayed as a bitch didn't make me happy) but since there are so many stories in this collection, just not liking two isn't bad.

Review copy provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

This is Seanan McGuire at her best, both as herself and as Mira Grant.

The collection is perfect for both new and old friends of McGuire, serving both as a primer of some of her best, already published stories and showcasing that several that were, at least to me, brand new. I read quite a lot of her work, actively seeking it out, so I was thrilled to find things I hadn't read before. I also enjoyed revisiting old favorites, though I did feel that there were perhaps a few too many I'd seen several times before.

The author commentary brings new light and life to each story, helping to contextualize them and reveal some of McGuire's process behind her words. That was one of the highlights for me, and what makes the collection well worth buying.